HACKETT-BRATZA CONCERTS

Evening Star, Issue 18716, 19 August 1924, Page 7

HACKETT-BRATZA CONCERTS

Alutual satisfaction resulted from the third and last of the concerts given last night iu Dunedin by the mnltum-in-parvo company that Air ’E. J. Gravestock is escorting round. The treasurer was tio doubt pleased to see such a large attendance. The audience was certainly pleased with the concert; the gratification was expressed iu encoring and clapping that apparently know no bounds, also in the (nore significant adoration of the listening attitude. Air llackett’s chief contribution was the principal tenor air from Gounod’s ‘ Romeo and Juliet,’ sung with fine masculine emotion. His Romeo is evidently not a lovesick boy, but an enraptured and forceful man. The song was “let go” with splendid freedom, thus liberating the toico and giving the audience the finishing lop note that is often derided but always appreciated when it is good. And this particular top note, a true B natural, was of the best. One of the most acceptabln of tho Boston tenor’s secondary contributions was ‘ Gia il Sole dal Gauge,’ by Scarlatti, it being made a lesson in crisp attack and release, and for passionate emotion nothing could be nicer than the interpretation of ‘ Care Salve,’ from Handel’s opera of ‘ Atalanta,’ its stately and courtly character being delightfully expressed and the runs delivered with perfect equality and smoothness. M. Bratza was enthusiastically applauded for everything ho did. As at the previous concerts, ho seemed not to be aware _ that wrong notes are to bo found on tho_ violin, and, carefully abstaining from trying for “ points,” he relied on of tone, weight, and moaning for tho effects that ho 'made with absolute surencss. AVo have heard the Beethoven ‘ Romance in G ’ played more richly, but never more faithfully ; and tho ‘ Rondo Capriccioso ’ by Saint-Sacns was one of tho cleverest performances ever heard hero from any violinist, young or old. These wore the two outstanding contributions by AI. Bratza, next to bis great offering, the ‘ Concerto in D Minor ’ by AVieniawski, the second movement of which quite thrilled the heavers. _lf Af. Bratza comes this way again ho will he Very welcome. Mr Clarence Raybould's distinguished fork at the piano never descended to the commonplace all tho evening. Tho company left Dunedin this morning, bound for Wellington, tho Auckland season to follow.